Teaching at Juvi -- Donald E. Long in Portland

The following was written in Winter, 2007 by Free Thomas, our primary Juvenile Justice teacher.

He writes: "I am now into my 3rd month teaching yoga to male teenagers in the RAD unit at Donald E. Long facility. I certainly knew from the beginning that this would be a challenge, yet I had no idea in what ways. Luckily, before I ever stepped foot in the unit, the staff had been talking up yoga and getting the guys excited because “Yoga” was coming!

This elusive and mysterious word seemed to have captured there interest, “yoga? What is it?” Most had heard of if, but few-to-none had ever done it. So the first class went as smooth as I could imagine…because for them, it’s like tasting the first sip of something that could be delicious. Then the second class came, and by then, almost every teen had decided that they hated yoga, they did not like it, when I asked them, what don’t you like about it, they respond, “it sucks, I don’t like it”, Not shaken, I asked, “Well, what “sucks” about it? Help me out, be specific. If you tell me, I can adjust to make it better for you.” “I just hate it.” they respond with resistance to expand.

Classes continue twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday. The resistance to yoga, to me, to my ideas, to my words, to breathing, to stretching, to relaxing, to being quiet only thickens. What is it that I can say or do to help them understand that Yoga is actually GOOD for you? No matter what I say, or do, it’s like running into a brick wall. I know that there is nothing I can do to convince, they have to discover it for themselves. After a month or so, I began to notice that the resistance is still strong on the outside, most vocally or energetically express they still dislike it, they despise it, they deplore it…that “everything was great until yoga class.” Yet, they balance on their hands for the first time in bakasana (crow pose) and they smile and say “Check ME out, I can do it!”

So I am beginning to think that maybe bits and pieces and moments in the class are actually fun and enjoyable. Usually, after they have a positive little breakthrough and smile, they say, oh my wrist hurts…following up the positive with a negative. If its not one thing, then its another. ‘What to do, What to do?’ I thought and thought. How can I get these guys to release the resistance to yoga? They complain that they don’t have a choice!

The policy of the RAD Unit is that they can choose to do yoga or they can do “Strength Building” – which I finally found out is small mountain of paperwork where they have to write out an express emotions and how to change them for the better. Most seem to perceive that as so awful, that they would rather “suffer” through yoga class. So the guys insist that they really don’t have much of a choice. After a really tough class the other day where we all pushed each others buttons, I had a clear breakthrough: You can choose to have a positive attitude toward yoga or choose to have a negative attitude toward yoga, that is the REAL choice. Yoga, or anything in life for that matter is ALWAYS more difficult if you have a negative attitude towards it. And chances are, if you choose to create a positive attitude, then life will get easier and better.

So next class, before going to the gym, I tell them the new “policy”: they either choose a positive attitude toward yoga or a negative attitude toward yoga. That is their choice, but, only positive attitudes are allowed in my class. Period. This is the gold I have been waiting to figure out. It is so simple. The choice shifts from an external motivator (ie, yoga vs. strength building) to an internal process (choosing a healthy attitude).

Yoga is no longer about being forced to do something they don’t like, it is about realizing they are self empowered to choose whichever attitude they want. It seems they “get it”. Immediately, the results show: more focus, dramatically less resistance. I begin using positive affirmations like mantras, repeating, “I feel good breathing in, I feel good breathing out”. I reinforce why I love yoga and how it helps all aspects of my life. By the Second class of the new policy, the guys started spontaneously teaching sun salutations. The 3rd class, four guys each took a turn teaching each other … how ‘bout that? From strong resistance to teaching just from the simple change in mindset and attitude! So the 3rd class of the new policy, an amazing thing happened.

We went through the class and we were having fun, being challenged, noticing improvement in the poses and their focus and relaxation. Per usual, we close the classes with chanting “Om”. They really seem to dig chanting. So today we got in a circle, and I instructed the English chant to repeat, “Yoga makes me Strong, makes me Calm, makes me Whole.” (Yes we are all retraining our mindset to be positive with yoga, it works wonders). As I was demonstrating the chant, they guys began to spontaneously hold hands in a circle and then chant together.

Let me repeat that, eight male teenagers in juvenile detention chose to hold hands in a circle and they did so willingly and enthusiastically!!! WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?!? What an amazing example of how mindset and attitude can shift people very fast into a much happier and supportive way. For me, the rewards of that moment were so deep because I realize that we are making an impact and that we are changing lives a little and a lot. Thanks to those amazing guys in the RAD unit at Donald E. Long, they really are all incredible and bright young men."